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It’s been said that advice is only worth what you pay for it, and it’s also true that nothing comes for free. When asking for tips on a particular situation, then, it’s a good idea to find someone who has gone through it before and can hence speak from experience.

With this in mind, X user Sahil Bloom had a smart idea. In the month leading up to his 32nd birthday, he reached out to senior citizens to ask them for one piece of advice they’d give to their 32-year-old selves. Bloom then took to X to list the top 40 pearls of wisdom he received.

More info: X


Image credits: SahilBloom

#1

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Allow your kids to fail. You will hate it, but it's so important.

SahilBloom , Luis Alberto Barrera Diaz Report

#2

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier If something has a minor issue, repair it. Minor issues become major issues over time. Applies equally to love, friendships, health, and home.

SahilBloom , freepik Report

#3

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Now and then, break out the fancy china and drink the good wine for no reason at all.

SahilBloom , Melike Benli Report

With the pace of modern technology, social media, and more news channels than ever before, it’s easy to dismiss the elderly as being out of touch. However, one thing that shouldn’t be forgotten is the wealth of knowledge these senior citizens have racked up over their long lives. 

A lot of their wisdom has been hard won over a lifetime of experiences. They’ve been through a vast number of failures and successes, positioning them particularly well to divulge the truths of a life well-lived and lessons learned the hard way.

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#4

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Do one good deed every single day, but never tell anyone about it.

SahilBloom , freepik Report

#5

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Find the things that make your eyes light up. Do more of those.

SahilBloom , Vladimir Kudinov Report

#6

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier It doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be wonderful.

SahilBloom , cottonbro studio Report

A great deal of the advice in the X thread deals with things like avoiding regret, overcoming fear, improving the world for yourself and those around you, and seizing every day for all that it’s worth. 

These fragments of wisdom are at once both thought-provoking and poignant and might have you questioning things. Topics dealt with include work, self-awareness, wellness, romance, and morality. One senior dispensed this gem: “Treat your body like a house you have to live in for another 70 years.”

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#7

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Tell your partner you love them every night before falling asleep. Someday you’ll find the other side of the bed empty and wish you could.

SahilBloom , Yan Krukau Report

#8

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Always remind yourself that your track record for making it through your bad days is perfect.

SahilBloom , Alex Green Report

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#9

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Treat your body like a house you have to live in for another 70 years.

SahilBloom , Marcus Aurelius Report

Bloom’s 40-point list is a virtual treasure trove of keen insights and hard-won advice. Having mined the minds of these senior citizens, he’s uncovered wisdom that younger generations would do well to pay attention to. A recurring theme seems to be that one shouldn’t sweat the small stuff; too much time and energy is wasted on things that don’t actually matter that much in the end.

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Another topic that came up was to be intentional about the people you choose to surround yourself with; it’s best to be around friends and loved ones that lift you up and inspire. One further piece of advice on this was to, “Never let a good friendship atrophy. Send the text, make the call, plan the trip. Good friendships must be treasured.”

#10

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Give everybody a second chance, but never a third.

SahilBloom , teksomolika Report

#11

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier There’s nothing wrong with shedding old relationships as you grow and change.

SahilBloom , Pixabay Report

#12

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Stubborn pride is the downfall of many men and women. Learn to forget the slight hurts and avoid grudges.

SahilBloom , Stanley Morales Report

On experiencing the sheer joy of life, one senior said, “Laugh loudly and unapologetically whenever you feel like it.” This one rings so true; the world would be a better place with more laughter in it, don’t you agree?

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#13

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Stop trying to change people who don’t want to be changed.

SahilBloom , Liza Summer Report

#14

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Time doesn't heal anything when it comes to relationships. Don't delay difficult conversations.

SahilBloom , Alena Darmel Report

#15

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Don’t fear sadness, as it tends to sit right next to love.

SahilBloom , Lukas Rychvalsky Report

#16

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Do one thing that challenges your mind every single day. A crossword puzzle, math problem, anything. Daily “exercise” will keep your mind sharp for the long haul.

SahilBloom , Karolina Kaboompics Report

Turning to the elderly to find out what’s really important in life makes sense. Time is a teacher, after all. In an article for The New York Times, reporter John Leland writes that the population age 85 and up has been growing at five times the rate for the city as a whole, doubling since 1980 to about 150,000.

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He goes on to say that a paradox of old age is that older people have a greater sense of well-being than younger ones - not because they’re unreservedly blissful, but because they accept a mixture of happiness and sadness in their lives, and leverage this mixture when events come their way. They waste less time on anger, stress and worry. 

As Ping Wong, 90, put it: “When you’re young, the future is so far away, and you don’t know what will happen to you and the world. So when you’re young you have more worries than the elderly. But I don’t worry now.”

#17

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Never let a good friendship atrophy. Send the text, make the call, plan the trip. Good friendships must be treasured.

SahilBloom , Pixabay Report

#18

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier If your kid wants to dance in line at the store, join them.

SahilBloom , Barbara Olsen Report

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#19

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier The most damning lie you can tell is the lie you tell to yourself.

SahilBloom , animationscreencaps Report

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#20

If there's something bothering you, ask yourself whether it will matter in one month. If not, let it go right now.

SahilBloom Report

Bored Panda reached out to the mentioned The New York Times Journalist John Leland for insights he gained after a spending a year with six people over the age of 85, a project that produced a book titled "Happiness is a choice you make: Lessons from a year amongst the oldest old." When asked about the most poignant piece of advice he'd received, Leland says, "I think the most important advice is the one encapsulated in the book's title. Whatever your age, life is going to happen to you, and sometimes it's going to be harsh. We can't control it. But we have some say in how we process it. Do we focus on the harshness or on, say, our resilience in facing it? We all know people who thrive despite serious problems in their lives, and we know people who are knocked sideways by tiny setbacks. Which way do you choose?"

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#21

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Looking presentable is a matter of self-respect.

SahilBloom , lucas souza Report

#22

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Smile and say good morning to strangers on the street.

SahilBloom , Matheus Ferrero Report

#23

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier You may occasionally disappoint others, but make sure to never disappoint yourself.

SahilBloom , Liza Summer Report

#24

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Never raise your voice, except for at a ballgame.

SahilBloom , Andrea Piacquadio Report

#25

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Getting old is no picnic, but it's much better than the alternative.

SahilBloom , Brett Sayles Report

When we asked Leland whether or not it's difficult for younger generations to meaningfully connect with the elderly, he said, "Our society separates people, including by age. If you don't know any (or many) older adults, that's not your fault. And if talking to someone much older makes you uncomfortable --- or if you'd rather avoid it --- that attitude is baked into our culture and the daily messages we receive.

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#26

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier If it's raining on a warm summer evening, go outside and dance in it.

SahilBloom , Muhamad Lutfi Report

When prompted for one piece of advice he'd like to share with the readers about asking advice from the aged, Leland had this to say, "I'll paraphrase the avant garde filmmaker Jonas Mekas, who was in his 90's when I spent time with him. An interviewer asked him what advice he had for a young person who wanted to be a filmmaker. His answer was perfect: Get a camera! So that's it: just jump in. Don't worry if the conditions aren't perfect or you don't know what you're doing. If you want an answer, ask a question. Chances are that the older person will be glad to share the wisdom he or she learned from living a long time."

Have you ever asked the elderly for advice on a pressing issue in your life? Did you find it meaningful or valuable? Let us know in the comments!

#27

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier No amount of money is ever worth trading for your peace of mind.

SahilBloom , freepik Report

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#28

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier When you meet someone, look them in the eye, give a firm handshake, and call them by their name.

SahilBloom , katemangostar Report

#29

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier When in doubt, love. We can always use more love.

SahilBloom , Katie Salerno Report

#30

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Travel as much as you can. Collect one token from every trip to remember it by.

SahilBloom , Porapak Apichodilok Report

#31

If something isn't working and your gut tells you to try harder, first ask whether there's just an easier way to do it.

SahilBloom Report

#32

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Laugh loudly and unapologetically whenever you feel like it.

SahilBloom , nappy Report

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#33

The "good old days" are always happening right now.

SahilBloom Report

#34

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Taking no risk is the biggest risk you can take. Regret from inaction is always more painful than regret from action.

SahilBloom , Jahoo Clouseau Report

#35

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier If you’re going to lose a fight, make sure the other person thinks twice before fighting you again.

SahilBloom , fxquadro Report

#36

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier No one has ever argued their way to happiness.

SahilBloom , Tim Samuel Report

#37

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Dance at weddings until your feet are sore.

SahilBloom , Danik Prihodko Report

#38

“Here’s The Life Advice Everyone Needs To Hear”: 90YOs Share 40 Things They Wish They Knew Earlier Whenever you hug someone, make sure they are the one to let go first.

SahilBloom , cottonbro studio Report

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#39

You may win the argument, but if you lose the friend, what was the point?

SahilBloom Report

#40

When you’re feeling down, smile at yourself in the mirror for a full minute.

SahilBloom Report